Interchangeable Baseball Cap and Constructed Visor in One

ABSTRACT

A modular head wear system includes a base cap structure defined by seams, an inner head band, a base band, and a front section. The base cap structure is adapted to receive interchangeable panels that fit over the openings.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/274,819 filed on Aug. 21, 2009, which is incorporated by reference in its entirety as if set forth fully herein.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to the field of head wear such as hats and caps having modular components that are replaceable and interchangeable for varying the look, function, and uses of the hat.

BACKGROUND

Caps, hats, and other kinds of head wear are useful for a variety of purposes, yet each purpose requires a different characteristic in the hat. Most individuals buy a separate hat or cap for each purpose because the hats are not interchangeable. Over time various attempts have been made at constructing hats and caps with more versatility, especially by making components within the structure of the hat interchangeable or at least removable. One kind of innovation in this regard is shown in published U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/116,976 (Hoyez 2002) (published as document number 2002/0162157). Hoyez shows an unconventional approach to having openings in a hat's structure. Instead of a standard opening for placing over a wearer's head and an opening at the back of a cap for sizing, Hoyez shows an opening in the front portion of a cap. In one embodiment, the wearer is a female and the front opening allows for hair styles used with the opening.

An early example of a removable hat structure is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 2,436,434 (Josephs 1943). Josephs shows an interchangeable type of hat or cap in which the stretcher ring that fits across the top or crown of the hat inside of a military style cap (particularly a navy officer's cap). This upper interior region of the cap also incorporates an area for attaching a label. The attachment area may be a pocket inside the cap for placing a removable card therein.

Adding functionality to a hat can also be accomplished as set forth in U.S. Pat. No. 5,181,277 (Sherman 1993). Sherman shows a cap that is entirely reversible for added functionality. The hat is separable along one seam, reconnected during use by a detachable and re-attachable headband encircling the interior of the hat. The head band attaches by a standard hook and loop connector. The detachable seam allows for turning the cap inside out for wearing two different styles with a single cap.

Constructing a hat of modular components has been the subject of prior efforts in hat technology. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,613,246 (Alexander 1997) shows a hat with a removable and replaceable bill attached by a zipper to the front of a hat. Proctor, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,862,523, shows a modular hat with a crown portion that attached by hook and loop connectors to a headband portion. The bill of the hat is also detachable and interchangeable via hook and loop connectors attached between the bill and the head band that encircles the inside of the crown portion. Proctor also shows that the crown portion has a section for hook and loop connection of various interchangeable insignia on the outside of the hat. Another kind of modular hat is set forth in published U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/227,273 published as document number 2006/0053527 (Schneider). Schneider uses layers construct a hat by overlaying the layer on a hat forming base.

Head wear other than standard caps has also been the subject of innovation. In U.S. Pat. No. 6,018,821 (Adams 2000), a turban style of head wear can be converted to a hat with a wide brim. The head apparel has a plurality of pieces that join in a circular pattern about the head and form a kind of pocket around the crown portion of the head wear. The circular pieces can be folded out to form a brim about the wearer's head. Decorating hats with brims is also the subject of U.S. Pat. No. 6,728,972 (Whitley 2004) (showing temporarily attached fabric covering and decorating a hat structure) and U.S. Pat. No. 5,592,696 (Oliver 1997) (showing a slip cover for a hat with a brim).

Hats are often used as elements of style, clothing accessories, statements about the person wearing the hat, avenues for marketing, and surfaces for advertising trademarks and service marks. Making the hat more versatile to serve these purposes is useful in the art of head wear today. Accordingly, head wear has received a good bit of attention for its ability to gain attention and to make statements (both literal and non-literal). In this regard, designers and engineers have used hats and other headwear as platforms for ingenuity. For example, in U.S. Pat. No. 6,311,332 (Lien 2001), a hat is shown having a transparent window installed along the front of the hat. Different inserts fit within the window (i.e., between the crown of the hat and the window) to change the look of the front of the hat.

U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,243,377 (Ashy 2007) and 7,621,000 (Fulton 2009) continue with the idea of adding stylized attachments to the exterior of hats for varying the look and purpose of a hat. Ashy attaches advertising media to the exterior of the hat by Velcro® and/or magnets. Fulton attaches a novelty item, such as a toy race car, to the brim or bill of a hat, by appropriate means for inserting the item therein. In U.S. Pat. No. 5,924,139 (Van Den Heuvel 1999), advertising media are attached to the back of the hat, over the sizing straps and the associated openings, by hook and loop connectors. Van Den Heuvel preceded that idea with U.S. Pat. No. 5,632,047 (1997) that shows the advertising media pinned over the sizing straps of a hat.

In a different embodiment showing attachments to an exterior of head wear, U.S. Pat. No. 5,477,629 (Gleason 1995) shows a cap having a front portion made of either hook or loop fabric, and attachment media are made of the opposite hook or loop fabric. Accordingly, Gleason's cap allows for attaching multiple kinds of accessories to a cap made for that purpose.

Although head wear has been the subject of prior updating efforts, a need exists in the art for head wear that allows for interchanging portions of the head wear for an entirely different look, function, and purpose. This need is met by the head wear system and products shown herein that allow for versatility in a finished product that has a nicely tailored look.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In a first embodiment, the head wear shown and described herein defines hemmed and smooth edges between the standard seams of a cap to form openings in the structure of the cap. The openings allow the user to attach various inserts, patches, or panels that provide unique patterns, colors, or even surfaces for displaying advertising. The panels may be attached by any know means, including buttons, pins, hook and loop connectors, and the like. Other panels may be attached by sliding into pockets formed around the openings. The head wear may incorporate a pocket on the interior or underside of the head wear to store replacement panels inside the hat.

In other embodiments, the removable and interchangeable panels may cover varying percentages of the hat structure. In caps that include a bill and a crown portion, the crown portion may be divided into sections by the seams of the crown portion. In this embodiment, a base cap structure may provide only the seams and allow the wearer to attach entirely new panels to every section formed by the seams of the cap. In other embodiments, only certain sections of the cap are removable or interchangeable and others are permanently attached. The hook and loop connectors may be located on the seams of the base cap structure or between the seams of the base cap structure. Corresponding connectors are located on the interchangeable panels that are intended to at least partially cover the holes or openings formed and defined by the seams and/or fabric between the seams. The connectors may be located on the interior of the base cap structure or on the exterior of the base cap structure.

In another embodiment of the head wear described herein, a cap may have a decorative band across the front of the crown portion, just above the bill. The decorative band may be removable or permanent and may be made of elastic material. Removable decorative bands may be used to hold beads, charms, or other decorations. In embodiments utilizing a decorative band of elastic material, the band may stretch over the bill to form a chin strap for holding a hat to a wearer's head.

In yet another embodiment, the decorative band may be attached by a pin or hook that holds the decorative band to the head wear. The pin or hook may also be decorative or engraved with various insignia for added personalization.

Another embodiment of the head wear described herein allows for a grommet to be permanently affixed, clamped, or sewn into the fabric of the hat. The grommet is available for added attachments and may even be threaded to hold attachments more securely.

A slip cover is also shown for decorating the bill of a standard cap.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows an exploded view of a modular cap having a base cap structure and interchangeable panels connected inside the crown portion of the cap as described herein.

FIG. 2 shows an exploded view of the modular cap having a base cap structure and interchangeable panels connected to the exterior of the crown portion of the cap as described herein.

FIG. 3 shows a modular cap with the interchangeable panels fitting on the interior side of the crown portion of the cap.

FIG. 4 shows a modular cap with the interchangeable panels fitting inside the cap and having a net configuration.

FIG. 5 shows a top view of a cap having seams that define sections of the crown portion of a cap and portions of the cap defining openings within the cap for receiving interchangeable panels therein.

FIG. 6 shows a front view of a cap defining an opening in a front section of the cap and an interchangeable panel for fitting therein.

FIG. 7 shows the interchangeable panel of FIG. 6 connected to the interior of the cap of FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 shows a top view of the cap of FIG. 6.

FIG. 9 shows a modular cap as described herein and having an inner head band that forms a pocket for storing interchangeable panels therein.

FIG. 10A shows a modular cap according to this description and having a decorative band attached to the front of the cap across the bill.

FIG. 10B shows an embodiment of the cap of FIG. 10A wherein the decorative band serves as a chin strap.

FIG. 11 shows an embodiment of the modular cap of this invention and having a grommet attached therein and a clip attached to the grommet.

FIG. 12 shows the grommet of FIG. 11 as being threaded to receive a corresponding insert.

FIG. 13 shows a slip cover for placing over the cover of a bill of a cap.

FIG. 14 shows the slip cover of FIG. 13 in place over the bill of the cap of FIG. 11.

FIG. 15 shows the back side of a cap having a grommet in place along a back seam.

FIG. 16 shows the grommet of FIG. 15 threading to a clip type of insert.

FIG. 17 shows a base cap structure having only a base band with no seams and a full crown insert panel connecting to the base band to form a cap.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

A modular head wear assembly allows for a user to incorporate removable and interchangeable pieces and parts into a hat or cap. As used herein, the term head wear encompasses all kinds of garments, accessories, tools, and equipment that a user places and wears on the head, particularly but not limited to the human head. Common kinds of head wear described herein include hats of all types. Terms such as “caps” and “hats” are used in their broadest senses and may be used interchangeably for clarity without limiting the invention. Traits of the system described herein may be used in all kinds of hats or caps and still be within the spirit of the overall invention.

FIG. 1 shows an overview of one embodiment of the modular head wear system described herein. In FIG. 1 the head wear is in the form of a cap (10), but the cap shown in the figure does not limit the kinds of head wear applicable to the technology described herein. A cap is useful as an example because caps typically include seams extending cross the top, or crown portion of the cap (10). As used herein, the crown portion of a cap extends from an outer base band (19) to the top of the cap (10). The bill (11) extends from the front of the cap. Seams 14A, 14B, 14C, and 14D divide the cap into front and side sections. Front section (5) connects to the bill (11). The seams (14A-14D) may be made of thicker folds of fabric and may vary in width. The seams may be reinforced with any stiffening material known in the art, including but not limited to plastics, metals, wires, nonwovens, paper, or layers of fabric.

The seams (14A-14D) and the base band (19) may be considered as a base cap structure that holds together sections of the cap (10). As shown, for example, in FIG. 5, sections of the cap (10) may include side sections (12), a front section (18), and seams (14) connected the sections. The side sections, the front section, and the seams may be formed of materials having varying levels of rigidity. The front section (18) is often the most rigid and gives a standard cap (10) a particular shape. The rigidity of the front section (18) may be varied by known means, such as fabric type, fabric thickness, or internal stiffeners including plates or foundational materials within layers of fabric making up the front section. The seams (14) may be even more rigid than the front section (18), but that comparison is at the option of the designer. The sections (12) of the hat or cap are often of an intermediate rigidity and may even be purely soft fabric for comfort.

As shown most clearly in FIG. 1, the sections of the cap (10) defined by seams (14A-14D) create openings (17) on either side of the cap (10). The openings have edges (or at least one continuous edge) (17A, 17B, 17C) to define any desirable shape. The edges of the openings may be formed by the seams (14) themselves or may be independently formed edges within the fabric or material of the cap sections (12) between the seams. The modular cap (10) includes a system of inserts or panels (20A, 20B) that fit over the openings (17) and cover the openings to allow interchangeable panel designs to show through the openings. The panels (20A, 20B) incorporate a means of connecting the panels to the structure of the cap. In the example of FIG. 1, the connectors are hook and loop connectors on the interior of the base cap structure and on the outer regions of the panels (20A, 20B). FIG. 1 shows the hook and loop connectors as continuous around all edges, but intermediate sections of the hook and loop connectors would also serve the same purpose. Other connectors, such as buttons, snaps, pins, etc. are also within the realm of possibilities for attaching the panels (20A, 20B) over the openings in the cap.

In one embodiment, not explicitly shown in the Figures, the panels may fit within the openings to form a continuous and smooth connection between the edges (17A-17C) of the openings (17) and the sides of the panels (20A, 20B). In this embodiment, the panels (20A, 20B) would have flaps that connect inside the hat and surface portions that are raised to the thickness of the opening (17) for a smooth and seamless fit inside the opening. In this way, the panels (20) may have surface sections that fit continuously with appropriate sections (18) of the caps.

FIG. 2 shows another embodiment of the cap (10) in which the panels (30A, 30B) fit on the exterior of the cap via connector portions, such as hook and loop connectors (25) positioned on the exterior of the cap.

Whether the panels (20A, 20B, 30A, 30B) are connected inside the head wear or on the exterior of the head wear, the panels offer an opportunity for customizing a base cap structure (including, for example only, a base band (19) and seams (14)) and forming multiple kinds of head wear with a single base cap structure. The panels may be made of multiple kinds of fabric, plastics, nonwovens, paper, or any other convenient materials. The panels may include numerous decorative elements including but not limited to patterns, colors, words, emblems, shapes, and all kinds of art work. FIG. 3 shows a panel of FIG. 1 in place in a modular cap. In the embodiment of FIG. 4, the panel is a net material (45) that allows for cool ventilation of the base cap structure. FIG. 6 shows that the front portion of a cap may define an opening via front opening edges (57A, 57B, and 57C). A front section panel (58) fits over the opening of the front section for the look shown in FIG. 7. Companion connectors (55, 56) hold the panel (58) inside the cap. Again, all features of the panels described above are incorporated in regard to the panel structure of FIG. 7. FIG. 8 shows a top view of the cap of FIG. 6 with the front section panel (58) removed. The base band (19) helps to maintain the overall shape of the cap. In a different embodiment, the seams of the cap may define a back portion that is adapted to receive a panel as well.

FIG. 9 shows another feature of the modular cap system described herein. In FIG. 9, the interchangeable panels (98A, 98B) for covering the corresponding openings in the cap may be stored within the cap itself. An outer base band (99) helps maintain the shape of the cap and either attaches or incorporates via a fold an inner head band (110) that connects around the crown portion of the assembled cap and to the bill (91). The inner head band includes at least a portion with an open hem that forms a pocket (110). The pocket may be in the form of a wider and open region (105) of the inner head band (110). The pocket is useful for carrying personal items, such as but not limited to additional panels (98B) that fit into the pocket in direction of arrow (112). This allows the user to change the panels at any time during use. In this embodiment, the base cap structure includes the bill (91), the base band (99), the seam (94), a front portion (not shown), and an inner head band (110).

The embodiment of FIG. 10A brings forth yet another useful feature in the form of a front band (150) that is attachable by hooks (155A, B). The hooks may be configured to allow the front band to be removed or they may permanently attach the front band. In embodiments using a removable front band (150), the front band may be decorated with beads, charms, jewelry, or other accessories that hang from the front band (150). FIG. 10A also shows that side openings (160, 170) may incorporate more than one kind of panel under the hat. The modular system allows for mixing and matching panels in a single base cap structure. As shown in FIG. 10B, the front band (150) may be formed of an elastic structure that allows the front band (150) to stretch over the bill of the cap and serve as a chin strap for holding the hat or cap in place.

FIGS. 11 and 12 shows that a grommet may be incorporated into many places on the hat or cap. The grommet (200) allows for another attachment point for accessories, such as a clip (205) for example. The position of the grommet (200) is not limited to those shown in the figures. In one example, the grommet may have threads (210) for accepting threaded attachments (215, 225). The attachments to the grommet may be utilitarian, such as clips (205, 425) and still serve a stylistic purpose (e.g., the logo of attachment 225). The grommet may be used to coincide with and match the hooks (150) described above.

FIG. 13 uses the bill (311) as a point for attaching accessories including a slip cover (315). The slip cover allows for protecting the bill and keeping it clean as well as another way of using interchangeable covers to change the look of the cap. FIG. 14 shows the slip cover in place.

FIGS. 15 and 16 show other examples of the grommet (200) in the back of the cap. In one embodiment, the grommet may connect an attachment clip that has a particular shape. One desirable attachment clip on the modular hat may include a means of holding sunglasses or eyeglasses, particularly folded glasses.

FIG. 17 shows another embodiment of a base cap structure that has a bill (511), a front section (518), and base band (519). A skull cap insert (550) fits inside the base cap structure to form the crown of the overall cap.

Overall, the modular head wear system described herein allows for removable and interchangeable panels to be used with a base cap structure. One should note, however, that different embodiments may combine different kinds of panels in one cap embodiment. The panels may be affixed to one another or separate and in some embodiments may be affixed to the cap permanently. In this regard, the invention described herein incorporates layers of fabrics attached to a base cap structure. Overlying pieces of fabric may be permanently attached to certain portions of the cap to achieve a desired look with a useful function, such as ventilation.

As noted above, the base cap structures may include seams, base bands, inner bands, and portions of fabric. All portions of the head wear described herein may include rigid materials to add shape as necessary. For example, plastics, metals, or any other rigid material may be sewn or formed into any portion of the modular system described herein for supporting panels as noted above. The panels (20, 30), the grommet (200), the front band (150), and other components may include, without limitation, permanently affixed plastic, metal, glass, or other materials as desired.

The invention is set forth further in the claims below. 

1. A modular head wear item comprising: edges defining at least one opening in the head wear item; at least one panel removably attached to the head wear item and at least partially covering the opening in the head wear item.
 2. The modular head wear item of claim 1, wherein the head wear item is a cap.
 3. The modular head wear item of claim 2, comprising a base cap structure.
 4. The modular head wear item of claim 3, wherein the base cap structure comprises a base band and seams defining sections of a cap.
 5. The modular head wear item of claim 4, wherein the panels are connected between the seams on the interior of the cap.
 6. The modular head wear item of claim 5, wherein the panels are connected between the seams on the exterior of the cap.
 7. A modular cap comprising a removable panel on at least one side of the cap, wherein the side of the cap extends between a front section and a back section of the cap.
 8. A modular cap comprising a threaded grommet affixed to the cap.
 9. A modular cap according to claim 8, further comprising an accessory connected to the threaded grommet.
 10. A modular cap comprising a removable front band extending across the top of a bill of the cap.
 11. A modular cap according to claim 10, wherein the front band comprises beading connected thereto.
 12. A modular cap according to claim 11, wherein said front band is sufficiently elastic to stretch over a user's chin. 